Public input sought on rural health plan

Gov. Matt Meyer said he welcomes public input as part of the Aug. 26 launch of the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative designed to strengthen healthcare in rural communities nationwide.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine how we deliver healthcare in rural Delaware,” Meyer said in a statement. “We want to hear directly from the people who know these communities best – patients, providers, advocates and neighbors. Together, we can build a system that addresses today’s challenges while creating healthier futures for every Delawarean.” 

Through the program, Meyer said Delaware will receive resources from Fiscal Year 2026 through Fiscal Year 2030 to expand access to care, improve health outcomes and ensure sustainable, high-quality services for residents in rural areas. The Governor’s Office is inviting community members, healthcare providers, nonprofit organizations and other stakeholders to share ideas and priorities that will shape Delaware’s Transformation Plan.  

Under federal guidelines, states must invest in at least three categories of rural health improvements, such as: 

• Evidence-based interventions to improve prevention and chronic disease management
• Payments to healthcare providers for specified services
• Consumer-facing, technology-driven solutions for prevention and chronic disease management
• Training and technical assistance for use of technology (e.g., remote monitoring, AI, robotics)
• Recruiting and retaining a clinical workforce in rural areas with a minimum five-year service commitment
• IT upgrades - cybersecurity, efficiency improvements, better outcomes
• Supporting communities in “right-sizing” their healthcare delivery systems
• Access to opioid use disorder, substance use, and mental health services
• Innovative care models, including value-based care and alternative payment mechanisms
• Other CMS-approved efforts to promote sustainable, high-quality rural healthcare services 

Responses are due by 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 19, and submissions will be accepted online at https://governor.delaware.gov/rural-health-transformation-program/.

Information gathered for Delaware’s official Transformation Plan will be submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.